Kyoto, Japan photograph album

Kyoto, Japan photograph album, circa 1880-1910

Overview of the Collection

Title: Kyoto, Japan photograph album
Dates: circa 1880-1910 (inclusive)
18751915
Quantity: 12 photographs in 1 album : hand-colored ; 8.5 x 11 inches
Collection Number: PH0838
Summary: Album of hand-colored photographs of Kyoto, Japan, largely depicting temples, circa 1880-1910
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English, Japanese

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

This album of hand-colored photographs of Japan were probably made by Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1934), who was a well known Japanese photographer. Kimbei worked with Felice Beato and Baron Raimund von Stillfried as a photographic colorist and assistant before he opened his own studio in 1881 in Yokohama, in the Bentendori quarter, and from 1889 operating in the Honmachi quarter. He later also opened a branch of his studio in Tokyo in the Ginza quarter. His clientele was mostly foreign residents and visitors, thus his photographs tend to be of Japanese scenery and Japanese people doing activities that would appear exotic to foreigners.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

During the Meiji Period in Japan (1868-1912), foreign tourists were allowed to travel to the country for the first time in recent history. Many photographers set up studios to cater to foreign tourists, and the Japanese interest in photography expanded. Photographs and postcards became very popular souvenirs for locals as well as tourists. In addition, some photos and postcards were exported to other countries as these photographs could emphasize the exotic and feudal aspects of Japan, despite the fact that Japan was becoming increasingly westernized.

In 1868, at the beginning of the Meiji Period, the capitol of Japan was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Kyoto began to modernize around the historical sites that had been already been built. The city continues to be a modern city with modern transport, ancient temples, gardens and palaces.

In 1870, the number of professional photographers in Japan had exceeded 100, and this number continued to grow with each passing year. By the 1890s, it was a very popular trend to hand-color photographs.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of an album of 12 hand-colored prints of Kyoto, Japan with images of temples, the outside of Mikado's Garden, kanten makers on the Kamo River, and the Maruyama area, showing the Yaami Hotel and other buildings. Each photograph is captioned in Japanese and English.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Leslie Potenzo; 2008.

Processing Note

Processed by Alicia Reuter and Marion Brown, 2009; revised by Melody Hauf, 2012

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
item
1	Kamigamo shrine, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
2	Shinsenen, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
3	In front of the Exhibition Ground, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
4	Stage of Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
5	Sanjusangendo, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
6	Higashi Honganji, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
7	Rakuto Maruyama, Kyoto, showing Yaami Hotel	circa 1880-1910
8	Toji Kondo Hall, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
9	Kanten (agar) factory on the Kamo River, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
10	Fushimi Inari Taisha Okunoin, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
11	Nishi Otani, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910
12	Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto	circa 1880-1910

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